No Room at the Inn

The number of ‘homeless’ in the US has ballooned in the last few years as many of them have taken up living in ‘tent cities’ on the streets.

At the same time our immigration numbers have swelled to unprecedented numbers.

Many large cities have put the many of the homeless and now immigrants up in their downtown hotels to the point where they are full.

That in turn, including people living on the sidewalks, has turned many ‘downtowns’ into shells of their former, vibrant, tourist and convention attracting areas.

Mayors and some governors are now screaming for relief to the duel edged problem, including those that formerly touted – in their high virtue stances – as ‘sanctuary’ cities or states.

So, the supposed solution for those governors and mayors to these problems is that the federal government provide more money to cities and states overrun with homeless and immigrants.

Don’t for one minute buy it.

The problem is not complex – and the solution is simple.

Our local and state civil jurisdictions simply have to adopt policies in accordance with our Constitution since our Federal government apparently as no interest in doing so. That requires the first responsibility of able people living in this country to legally take care of themselves. It is not the responsibility of any level of government to provide food, shelter, clothing, and housing for able citizens, much less for immigrants/non-citizens. Period.

We all know that the majority of current ‘homeless’ people are likely either mentally ill or addicts – or both. Many of them are now living via governmental handouts and tolerance – and stealing. We don’t/won’t solve the problem by providing more latitude for socially unacceptable behavior. If we didn’t realize it before, we know now that California and its cities have seen their homeless numbers grow exponentially because that state and cities have provided incentives for homeless people to come there – that they can live on the street(s) and shoplift/steal up to $900 at any one time without the threat of prosecution. The latter has not only acerbated the crime numbers but the livability of many cities.

When it comes to immigration, the first thing that must happen is the removal of the now routine of reciting the magic word ‘asylum’ at border checkpoints. It’s not only that they are manipulating the system, but the years long backlogs being carried by our immigration courts for a hearing and argument on why they deserve asylum status.

Second, immigrants must understand and show they will not be a burden on the taxpaying citizenry before being allowed entry. Currently immigrants know the government will be take care of them after entry. That includes being given a cell phone and transportation wherever within the country. That provides an incentive to come which must be removed. They need to understand they are responsible for themselves as well in this country.

The government has all the latitude to show compassion and empathy. But it is not the government’s job or responsibility to be a long-term charity. Spending taxpayer dollars on ‘charity’ is not part of its role. Providing money for all the basics of living can be a short-term safety net for those in dire straits financially. Beyond that it flies in the face of what the country is about. Beyond that it results in dependency – the last thing our founders would have considered. Beyond that it’s on the people – voluntarily. Socialism hates charity – and in the US it’ supposed to be a private sector matter.

And over the centuries, our private sector – and its citizens – have been the most generous in the world.

The bible story of Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem as ordered but finding no room at the inn resulted in the couple’s doing their best to accommodate the situation in the latter stages of Mary’s labor. They didn’t panic, throw up their arms in frustration or publicly protest demanding accommodation. No, they made do in a stable – very successfully.

It’s a great story of how we as humans we can adapt, think, and accommodate.

We don’t need, much less want, our political apparatus to supplant or accommodate those who freely arrive to “no vacancy” signs.

If what you need is help over one of life’s bumps, help to do that is likely available. If that ‘bump’ is addiction, the first thing you have to decide is whether you want to live or die. If life is the decision, there’s only one choice – rehab and recovery. If you’re not aware of your mental illness, your family, neighbors and acquaintances need to refer you to the system. In either case, you’re not contributing to our society by ignoring your problems and expecting to be supported in not getting help.

Much the same is true for immigrants. Crossing the border gives you no rights to personal financial support. You should be treated humanely, but you should also know you’re on your own, kiddo.

Why is it in the last several decades politicians can get elected by indicating they are going to spend our money for people to sit on their butts? With a debt now well in excess of our GDP, we can financially afford no more.

There’s “No Room at the Inn.”

Want to live in the United States? Get a job and take care of yourself.

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Have a great and prosperous week.

Hug somebody.

SPIDER Bites

This week’s trivia question: What song did Paul McCartney pen for John Lennon’s son, Julian? Answer to last week’s state with the most freshwater shoreline? Michigan. It has 3,288 miles of Great Lakes shoreline – touching 4 of them. It also has the most lighthouses at 120, the largest football stadium in the world, seating 109,000 and the most registered boats.

The death and destruction of the wildfires on Maui were/are heart wrenching.

As the public comment period ended last week for the new EPA rules severely limiting greenhouse emissions, the power company association – Edison Electric Institute – is pushing back, saying the technologies suggested to be used are not proven they can meet the required cost and timelines, and that: “This will impact electric companies’ efforts to deliver affordable and reliable electricity to customers.” The power companies just don’t realize and understand that logic and business sense doesn’t matter to this administration.

Meanwhile, the California Energy Commission voted Wednesday to delay the closure of three gas-fired power plants in Southern California due to concerns that doing so ‘prematurely’ could elevate the risks of blackouts.

The leniency in enforcing the ‘illegal’ sale of incandescent light bulbs ended last month. Now you could be arrested.

It’s incredible. The US Attorney for Delaware that put together a plea deal with Hunter Biden that was thrown out of court has now been named Special Council for the investigation into Hunter and family.

Credit card interest rates hit a record high 20.33% last week as consumer credit card debt topped $1T for the first time. Bidenomics. Remind me who’s in charge?

Speaking of who’s in charge, this week marks the anniversary of the beginning of the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. While the withdrawal itself was welcome and long overdue, it’s still one of the most embarrassing and deadly ever for the US. We not only left $7B in military equipment behind, but we also lost the respect of both ally and enemy on the world stage. And yet no one is accountable.

Moody’s downgraded the credit ratings of 10 regional banks last week. The problem for banks is still high inflation, the Federal Reserve treasury bond requirements, profitability in the wake of higher interest rates, and lower loan demand.

While on average EVs initially cost $4,600 more than gas/diesel powered vehicles, the spike in electricity rates caused by the increased cost of fossil fuels which generate 70% of our electricity make the operating cost advantage of EVs almost nil in most states. Just don’t put fossil fuel in your car, use fossil fuels to generate the electricity you put in your car and save the world! See, you can be a hero!